29

   The use of charas in these provinces is so in-
significant that it cannot be taken into considera-
tion.

   The above figures show the result of the
answers to both the 26th and 27th questions.

   28. The quantity of ganja as smoked by the
different classes of smokers is as follows:—

   (a) Half a tola per day at 6 pies; or 2 seers,
5 chattaks in a year, which costs Rs. 11-8.

   (b) Two tolas a day, which costs annas 2; 9
seers, 4 chattaks in a year, which costs
Rs. 46.

   29. Ganja is generally smoked with tobacco,
but on special occasions city people in order to
increase its effect, add the following ingre-
dients:—saffron, cloves, jaiphal, sandalwood. It
is sometimes moistened by milk or sugarcane
juice. The mendicants also mix a little dhatura
seed and leaves of thoar plant. Cowdung fire
is preferred. Sometimes ganja is smoked in a
pipe made of sugarcane (vide answer No. 19).

   The following are the ingredients of bhang:—
black pepper, cardamoms, roses, poppy seeds,
cucumber seeds, sugar and milk.

   Sometimes bhang is ground together with the
ingredients given above and made into pills.
This is generally done during the monsoons.

   30. Ganja is for the most part smoked in
solitude. It is seldom used in company. The
use of ganja is mainly confined to the male sex;
only some female mendicants, called "abdhootni,"
do so; children do not smoke. The consump-
tion of bhang is generally practised in company;
women and children do not drink bhang. Charas
is not in use in these provinces, but in Oudh it
is smoked in company in the shops kept by the
women called "Sakins." Charas is also smoked
by low class prostitutes.

   31. The habit of consuming these drugs is not
easily formed. It takes a long time. But when
once formed, it is very difficult to break it off.
Yes, there is a tendency of moderate habit
developing into excessive. The same is the case
with bhang, but it is easier to knock off this
habit than smoking ganja.

   32. To the best of my knowledge there are no
customs, religious or social, in regard to any of
these drugs.

   33. The consumption of ganja is regarded very
badly. The public opinion about this is that it
is the most derogatory kind of intoxication, and
its smoker is looked upon as a mean person. Its
use is forbidden by the Muhammadan religion,
and Brahmins also abstain from it.

   Bhang is not badly regarded by Hindus, but
the Muhammadan religion and laws of society
strictly insist upon abstinence. To the best of
my knowledge hemp plant is not an object of
worship.

   34. The occasional, moderate or excessive
smokers easily forego the consumption of the
drugs they use, but habitual smokers will find it
difficult. It will be a serious privation to habi-
tual excessive consumers. But it is possible to
knock the habit off. I have often met, as a
Superintendent of Jail, with cases in which
prisoners who were addicted to use of these drugs
lost the habit. They do not suffer so much as
opium eaters do. In my opinion moderate
habitual consumers can forego the habit, and 75
per cent. of excessive habitual consumers. It is
much more easy to knock off the habit of drink-
ing bhang. Only excessive habitual consumers
will suffer, but opium can supply its want.
Ninety per cent, of bhang consumers can forego
the habit.

   35. In my opinion, it is feasible to prohibit
the use of all these drugs. It should only be
allowed as medicine for sick persons. Efforts
will be made for a certain time to consume the
drugs illicitly. The best way to enforce prohibi-
tion would be to prevent cultivation of hemp
plant. I do not think that prohibition will
occasion any serious discontent among the con-
sumers. There is no fear of any political danger.
The prohibition of bhang might cause some ill-
feeling.

   In my opinion, if the consumption of these
drugs is prohibited at once, it will of course be
a privation to the present generation for some
time, but it must be taken into consideration that
the future generation will be quite free from
this vice, which is a great source of degeneration
of morals and destruction of health. I fear the
prohibition will be followed by recourse to alco-
holic stimulants and other drugs.

   36. The reasons why alcohol is being substi-
tuted for hemp drugs are—

   (1) alcohol is not so injurious;

   (2) the revenue from the sale of alcohol is
daily increasing, while that from hemp
drugs decreasing;

   (3) alcohol is prevalent among the more ci-
vilized people, and as a rule the less
enlightened people are their followers,
and as they come more and more in
contact with them, they adopt their
habits; hence the increase in the use
of alcohol.

   37. The only difference between the effect of
ganja and charas is that the effect of the former
is very quick, while the latter takes a longer time
to cause intoxication. The effect of ganja does
not last long; at the longest for an hour and a
half. The effect of charas is more durable: it
lasts for three or four hours.

   38. Baluchur, i.e., fiat ganja, is more intoxi-
cating than round ganja, and chur even less.

   39. The smoking of the preparation of hemp
drugs is a more injurious form of consumption
than drinking or eating the same. The reason
is that smoking produces greater and immediate
effect on one's brain, while the effect produced
by drinking or eating is not so quick, and it is
less injurious to the brain. It has often been
seen that the smoker, while taking a long draught
of smoke, fell down quite stupefied.